Seal press support and die and method for forming the latter



Sept. 29, 1959 2,906,197

SEAL PRESS SUPPORT AND DIE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE LATTER c. PRlESMEER a Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 INVENTOR.

esmger Sept. 29, 1959 PRIESMEY ER 2,906,197 SEAL PRESS SUPPORT AND DIE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE LATTER Filed Aug. 16., 1955 's Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

( ar/e5 Prz @9222 eye)" Sept. 29, 1959 c. PRIESMEYER SEAL PRESS SUPPORT AND DIE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE LATTER Filed Aug. 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 SUP/= 65 BLANK \A SEAL PRESS SUPPORT AND DIE METHOD FOR FORMING THE LATTER Charles Priesmeyer, Park Ridge, 11]., assignor to Meyer 8: Wenthe, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16, 1955, Serial No. 528,612 4 Claims. (6]. 10128).

manufacturing seal presses in obtaining proper alignment between the upper and lower embossing dies. It has beennecessary to proyide means to secure the dies permanently in their supports, which means have generally required several precision manufacturing steps, and inelude: the orientation of the top of the lettering in the dies in a desired embossing position with respect to the seal press as a whole and the upper and lower dies with respect to each other.

Accordingly, mounting of the embossing dies in the seal press has normally been done in the manufacturing plant'with precision instruments. If there are any variations or alterations or damage to either die or to their .relative positiona correction cannot be made thereafter by an individual operator inthe field and if replacement is required the seal press'must be returned to the factory for repairl Also, when the die becomes worn or requires cleaning, it cannot be readily removed without damage to its mounting. Consequently the seal is. often out of commissioni for long periods of time, or must be factory rep sied- Even where the die supports constitute a unit removable from. the frame, the methods of attachment of the unit in the frame leavethe lower die unsupported or unbaclged over critical areas of its working face.

Also, it is diflieult in production to get a proper positioning of the upper die, so that it will be in perfect alignment withthe lower 1 Where a permanent installation method is used.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a die support adapted to removably secure therein a die piece so that the die maybe readilyremoved without damage to any parts, inspected, cleaned and realigned'perfectly at will, without the exercise of technical ski l, the dies adjusting themselves properly under re- Res d us in er on- A further object of the invention is ot provide. a die thatmay be readily removed. from the support and: in-

scribed with other or diiferent indicia and, reused, without necessarily removing the existing indicia.

"Another, object of the invention isto provide a die piece constructed and arranged so that while in. use the indicia disposed about the marginal edges is. reproduced before the other indicia and in which rupturing of the paper upon excess pressure is substantiallyreduced.

Another object is toprovide a die supportunit which can be mass produced without the necessity of close preset accuracy in thefitting of the die to the die support, said die support unit supporting the back ofthe' die over 2,906,197 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 ICC its entire back surface, and adjusting itself automatically in proper position in its frame during initial use.

Another object is to provide adie support and assembly in which the setting of one die member is made from the other end and thereafter the other can be easily removed and realigned any time with common tools without involving precision factory equipment that is used in conventionally made seal presses.

Another object is the provision of a method of manually aligning the upper die with the lower die for their proper registration by the sense of touch alone. Another object of the invention is the provision of a die support which can be pressed down over the upper die manually when that die is positioned on the lower die to secure the upper die therein without necessity of further manipulation.

Another object is to provide a die support which will afford sensitive adjustment between the dies so that slight differences in alignment relatively therebetween may be corrected initially under working conditions.

The invention is further characterized by a die support assembly which is readily removable and replaceable manually and which locates itself automatically in the press frame with initial use when returned to the frame.

Yet another object is to provide adie support for'a seal press which is simple and economical tornanufacture and maybe used and serviced by those not skilled mechanically, other features of the seal press being described in applicants application Serial No. 358,859, now Patent 2,706,448 issued April 19, 1955, reference to which is hereby made.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table top seal press showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partly in vertical section of the devices seen in Fig. 1. illustrating the position of the elements in the seal press when the press is in its open position; v

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the die support means according to the present invention disclosing the method of removing the die from the support element;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View partly in vertical section of the device seen in Fig. 1 disclosingthe position of the dies immediately prior to the positioning of the upper die in the upper die support element;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view disclosing the seal elements after the top die has been inserted in thetop die support element;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view taken along. the line 6-6 of Fig. l of the die, the die support and the die retainer means embodying the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom of the lower die support;

Fig. 8. is a modified form of a die piece made in accordance withthepresent invention;

Fig. 9 is a further enlarged fragmentary elevational view, in section, taken. substantially on line 9--9 of 'Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10. is an elevational view, in section, illustrating method by which the die piece of the present invention is formed.

Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of a seal press adapted for use with the die support means of the present invention is shown, of the variety described in. the aforementioned application Serial No. 358,859, now Patent 2,706,448 issued April 19, 1955. The press thus may comprise two substantially identical side frame members 10 held together in parallel spaced relationship by spacer rivets, one 11 at the back, another 12 at the front end, and another 13 at the upper front end, the last of which serves also as a pivot pin for the handle shown generally at 14. Other rivets can be provided at suitable points if the seal press is made larger.

The bottom edges 15 of the side frames may be straight and coplanar with outwardly turned ears 15a covered with rubber tube sections 15c to rest on top of table (not shown). The upper edges 16 of the side frames are arched upwardly and forwardly for strength and decorative purposes. The side frames are notched out at their front end to provide a throat 17, whose lower edge is provided with an outwardly facing shoulder 18, in front of which the remainder of the throat edge is straight as at 20, and preferably parallel with the bottom edge 15 of the side frame except near the center thereof where a tooth or catch 43 is provided with an incline edge 43a terminating at the rear in a shoulder 43c. It is upon the straight edge portion 20 of the throat that the bottom face of the lower die holder 21 rests as positioned in front of the shoulder 18 by the catch 43 engaging in mating debossments 43e upon the bottom face of the lower die holder 21 when located in its operative position as further described later.

Notching of the side frame provides an overhanging arm 22 having a slot 23 formed therein of a shape and contour best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, same being elongated in a horizontal direction with the lower edge 24 thereof inclined downwardly over the rearward portion so that a loose roller 26 disposed in the slot will normally roll to the rear end of the slot 23 when free to do so. Otherwise side frames 10 are perforated at suitable points to receive the spacer rivets 11, 12 and 13 in the places shown.

Referring now to the handle 14, this element is preferably struck from a sheet of heavy metal to provide a construction seen in the several views in which a pad 27 is provided at the free end thereof for the comfort of a persons hand, and the remaining portion is stamped to a U-shaped form with holes in the side as at 28 which journal on the rivet 13. A notch 30 is provided to cooperate with the roller 26 when the notch 30 coincides with the portion 25 of the slot 23 aswhen the handle 14 is moved to its fully depressed position.

The sides 29 of the handle are riveted together by a rivet 31 which carries thereon a roller 32. The handle as thus formed with the roller in place is mounted between the upper arms 22 of the side frames at the time that the rivet 13 is inserted to hold the side frame members together. Then, as the handle 14 is depressed, the roller follows a path indicated by the are 35, Fig. 2, and rolls along the supporting member for the upper die as subsequently described. The front edge and the side walls 29 of the handle 14 are coplanar as at 36, and as best shown in Fig. 2 the roller 32 extends below the coplanar edges 36.

The unitary die assembly 40 is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and and includes a lower die support 21 stamped from heavy fiat stock and having a circular end portion 43d to receive the bottom die 44 thereon and an inner end portion 210 with parallel sides received in guided relationship between the side frame members and terminating in a downwardly bent end portion 41 perforated as at 42.

The bottom face of the lower die support 21 where it coincides with the catch 43 has debossed therein correspondingly shaped recesses with inclined bottoms 43f terminating in a stop wall 43g. Thus whenever the lower die support is slid into place as guided by the inner end portion between the side frame members, the recesses drop over the catches 43. Over-insertion of the lower die support is not significant because the incline 19 will prevent disengagement of the inclined surfaces 43a and 43] and the first time the seal is operated the inclined surfaces will locate the lower die support with the shoulder 430 against the stop Wall 43g. The recesses 43e do not extend through to the top side of the lower die support and consequently the lower die is physically supported over its entire area for all seal pressures.

standing of the operation of the device.

'of substantially uniform thickness.

"62a which are substantially the same.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the upper die holder 48 of the present invention is disclosed as being riveted to the spring blade 46 by rivets 50 which lie flush with the inner flat surface of the die holder. The die holder is cup-shaped and is preferably formed of spring metal substantially .030 of an inch in thickness and having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the die to be received therein so that when the die is inserted by the method which will be hereinafter described, a firm gripping relationship between spring cutout elements on the holder 48 and the die 50 will be accomplished and the die will be maintained against inadvertent rotation at all times.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the annular spring flange 51 of the die holder is provided with cut-out portions 52, 54 and 56 leaving two spring fingers 58 which are shaped and sprung inwardly slightly as shown in Fig. 6 so that they may be moved outwardly slightly upon insertion of the die to establish a gripping relationship with the die.

Preferably the die should have some freedom'to rotate slightly under strains developed during operation. More particularly, the spring elements 58 are formed integrally 'with the cup holder as cut from the sides and bottom as 'defined by cuts 54 and 56, the portions formed from the bottom of the holder being offset slightly whereby the spring elements 58 press the die against the bottom of the holder. The elements 58 also serve another function which is to indicate to the user that the cup is a spring retainer so that improper use will not be made of the elements and the user will have an immediate under- Furthermore, the clearances made available by the spring fingers between the die and the walls of the cup makes it possible to turn the upper die over and emboss new lettering thereon without the expansion of the die blank caused by embossing causing a rigid binding in the support cup.

According to the present invention, a die piece isprovided which affords initial contact of the indicia sur- In addition, the confronting defining the indicia are characterized by the absence of :sharp edges and the presence of embossing surface contours most favorable to embossing paper with little if 'any tearing or perforation of the paper.

The blank is first formed to have twin faces substantially alike on opposite surfaces on each of which an annular panel 55 is provided near the margin of each face and a circular panel is provided in thecenter of each face.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the die piece is shown in three stages of its development. Fig. 10 shows it as a circular blank 54 of brass, bronze or similar metal Fig. 9 shows the die member 54a after it has been struck by forming dies 61 and 62 to provide two like or twin faces'on opposite in Fig. 8.

The dies 61 and 62 have working surfaces 61a and Preferably, die 61 is a striking die while die 62 serves as an anvil die, which additionally is reciprocably mounted for relative movement with respect to a cylindrical sleeve 63 that is flared slightly as at 63a to receive the die blank 54 easily therein. The surfaces 61a and 62a preferably have two concentric radially spaced lands 56 and 57 to provide radially spaced decorative embossments 56a and 57a serving as borders for an annular panel 55 and a circular center panel 60 on each side.

The central portions 61b and 62b of the die faces ably slightly relieved 'near the 'l'ahds '51 to perrnit 's'ome lateral flow of the di'e blank' metal towards the center of the blank inside the lands 57.1 However, between the lands'56 and 57 the faces 61c and'62'c are relieved'to the extent that they preferably do not contact the metal of t e d e blan WhI f t e EP 3 mb me are struck as will now be described. a

After the bl nk is placed in the cavity defined by the sleeve63 and rests upon the forming die 62 theupper die is brought down under high pressure. The lands 56 and 57 flow the metal between them and adjacent to them to contours as shown in Fig. 9 in which metal is coined at the embossments 56a and 57a simultaneously on opposite sides except at the bases of the lands. At the bases the metal is not contacted and the surface contour of the die piece 54a at these places follows the natural fiow of the metal in rounded contours which are natural to the molecular response of the metal to flow pressure. This natural flow provides the best contoured working areas for embossing paper, with little if any tearing. The natural metal flow contour is preferred over full coining contact with carefully engraving forming dies.

Moreover, the flow of the metal outside of the outer land due to die relief at this point also is natural on the opposite sides of the die piece 54a and flows hard against the sleeve 63. Thereafter, once the stamping blow is struck in which die contact at the central areas 61b and 62b controls land penetration, the sleeve is moved downwardly. This movement not only sizes the edge of the die piece 54a but also burnishes and polishes it so that it easily cooperates with the cup 48 on the seal press frame within closely held tolerances and adjusts itself to its proper working position, as explained later. Thus the annular panels 55 are slightly arched as shown in Fig. 9 above the original surface level with assured natural flow contour where the paper receives its greatest amount of embossment.

When it is desired to impress indicia such as 59 on the die face, individual stamps are used for each letter. Once completed, it is polished lightly to remove high spots around the letters. Thereafter the die piece is used as the master or upper die for the formation of the mating or lower die. They then cooperate to provide contact with paper at the annular panel 55 slightly ahead of the central areas between surfaces. Thus formed, these surfaces are most natural for handling the paper with minimum tearing.

The method of mounting the dies upon their respective supports may be explained in connection with Figs. 2, 4, and 5. Once the dies are made, they are placed in mated relation with the top of the lettering in the dies oriented with respect to the desired position in the cup and the upper die is finger pressed down into the cup. A wafer 44a having a pressure and heat sensitive adhesive is placed between the lower die and its supporting element and preliminary pressure is applied to them and released. The lower die will adhere to the lower die support and the dies will separate. A piece of paper is inserted between the d ies, the unit placed in a seal press frame and the dies again closed and locked under pressure. Heat is applied to the lower die and allowed to cool. The

dies are opened, the paper removed and the seal press is ready for use.

Thereafter when the upper die is removed for any reason, such as cleaning or inspection, and is to be returned, it is placed on the lower die and lightly turned by hand until the sense of touch indicates that the two elements have dropped into mating registration. This is the position seen in Fig. 4. Thereupon the holder ele- 6 ment 48' is moved downwardly by means ofthe handle until is pressed around the upperdiein gripping relation as seen in Fig" 5'.

' Thereafter when the first piece of paper is placed between the "dies'and an impression made, the papertakes up all tolerances between the and rotates the upper die if it is 'slightlyout' of perfect mating frelationship, the smooth burnished edge of the die makingfthis possible. Upon release the paper is removed and the dies are in perfect adjustment for use, the upper die being maintained with a predetermined constant spring, pressure tightly in place for perfect registration with the lower die both axially and rotatively, even after repeated removals. The upper die can be removed upon occasion as often as desired and returned to perfect registration by simple repetition of the use of paper as described. The repeated use of the seal press the first few times with paper between the dies will cause the upper die to slightly adjust itself rotatively for perfect registration to prevent possible cutting of the paper at uneven contact points. This works equally well with the dies as they wear.

For purposes of removal of the upper die, the cutout portion 52 is preferably formed with a width sufiicient to permit insertion of a worn screwdriver blade or the like, as seen in Fig. 3. Since the cut extends the full height of the flange, the screwdriver can be moved beneath the back of the die without scratching or marring the die face. Whereafter the application of a small amount of leverage will suffice to force the die out of the cup. After the upper die has been cleaned and manually realigned on the lower die, it can again be pressed into the cut within the spring cup 48 by depressing the handle as already described.

It is preferred for cleaning the dies that the die assembly unit be removed from the press frame before removing the upper die and since the spring 40 is free to open the dies wider, better inspection of the lower die is afforded. Return of the unit to the frame is easily accomplished as already explained and the unit drops into perfect working position upon the first use of the press.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to certain principles and features, it is to be understood that the principles are susceptible to considerable modification and variation. Accordingly, it is not intended to be limited by the illustrated examples in the accompanying drawings nor by the language chosen in the foregoing description except as indicated in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A double faced die piece for seal presses comprising a disc-shaped member of brass-like metal having on both faces directly opposite each other and adjacent to their respective marginal edges laterally spaced continuous lines of coined embossments defining relatively narrow border panels whose surfaces curve convexly outwardly from said lines of embossments to levels above the level of the central portion of the respective faces to afford in use initial working contact of recessed indicia disposed wholly within the confines of the border panel.

2. A double faced die for seal presses comprising a disc-shaped member of metal having on both faces adjacent to their marginal edges laterally spaced continuous lines of embossments defining border panels whose surfaces extend above the level of the central portion of the respective faces and whose metal stock at said emboss ments comprises axially and laterally displaced metal bordering said border panels for the reception therebetween of embossed indicia disposed wholly within the confines of the raised surfaces of the border panels.

3. A reversible die for seal presses comprising a discshaped member having on both faces adjacent to their marginal edges laterally spaced continuous lines of embossments defining border panels whose face surfaces curve convexly above the level of the central portion of the respective faces for the reception of embossed indicia disposed wholly within the confines of the raised surfaces of the border panels.

4. A reversible die for seal presses or the like comprising a circular blank having adjacent themarginal edges of its opposite faces radially spaced grooves of concentric embossments defining annular panels directly opposite each other whose surfaces curve convexly outwardly from said ernbossments to levels above the level of the remaining surfaces thereof for the reception of indicia disposed wholly within the width of said panels and flat circular central panel defined by the inner ones of said rings for the reception of indicia therein whereby contact is initially made by a corresponding die piece along said annular panel. and then with said central body 8 portion, the. metal at said embossments comprising coined metal. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

